Traylike rebound unit



C V7, 967 N. R. Ansel-:RLY 3,347,546

TRAYLIKE REBOUND UNITv Filed Oct. l, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l 108 im' l@ j f rfl, /08 104 Get. l?, 1967 N.R. ABBERL.Y

TRAYLIKE REBOUND UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l, 1965 www QNWX. mw

MM mvENToR @ci w57 N. R. ABBERLY TRAYLKE REBOUND UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed OCt. l, 1965 United States Patent O 3,347,546 TRAYLIKE REBOUND UNIT Nicholas Rippen Abberly, 501 4th Ave. SE., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 491,915 12 Claims. (Cl. 272-65) This invention relates to recreational and physical fitness apparatus of the rebound bed type and having frames which, in plan view, are substantially polygonal, recommendedly rectangular.

There are padless, transversely resiliently yieldable raised margins along the borders of the rebound-surfaceproviding panel, alternatively termed, llat, and tray floor. To point up the similitude to a tray, collective alterna tive herein terms for the margins are tray rim and rirn. The quotation marks, as used herein, are essential. As used herein, the terms, bed, rebound bed, are exclusive references to a complete invention-incorporating apparatus, while all those that do not incorporate the invention are referred to herein as trampolins.

Each frame side is, in the main, constituted by a rigid angle/rail and, parallel-wise adjoiningly ailixed t it, by a said raised margin, which is an elongated, strip spring transversely curved to bring the two long edges thereof into a mutually substantially parallel and adjacent state and, lengthwise dimensionally stable, the aflixment being effected by fasteners. In certain to-be-identified elements are spacedly, more than coextensively overhead of certain undesirable spaces which edgewise dcne the rebound mat `and present, to the thereon irnpacting anatomy of a user, oblique surfaces which defleet the user into an inward and approximately horizontal rebound onto the surface (into the safe haven) of the rebound panel or mat orflat. Thus is provided the third factor for safety. The other two are respectively the padless resiliently yieldable strip spring and the considerable enlargement of the usable rebound area. The aims and advantages additionally include a further simplifying directed at a further reduction of materials and labor costs and at augmented durability, hence, reduced maintenance.

In the main, the rebound bed consists of a general ilexible assembly and a mount for it, the assembly consisting, besides certain small components: of a said panel, which may be a canvas sheet or a net woven from webbings or tapes successively spaced in both the warp and the weft; of four elongated, two-way-stretch elastic aprons; of four elongated canvas ilaps, each aixed to a respective said aprons long edge and serving as one of said oblique-surface-providing covering elements; and, for holding the flat to the frame, of a resiliently stretchable supporting means, which may be, in the case of each side, a group of coil springs or shockcords. The frame may constitute the whole mount -or only a major part of it, in which `case the mount remainder is a plur'ce FIGURE 1 is a li-reference-scale, one-half-symmetrical elevational view of the smaller rebound bed.

FIGURE 2 is a 1/s-reference-scale, fragmental, radial sectional view of the circumscribed part 2 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a %referencescale, 1i-syrnmetrical top plan view of the FIGURE 1 embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a 1a-reference-scale, bottom plan View of a corner covering panel, the safety plate 62, seen in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a 1/areference-scale, sectional view of the same, seen in the plane of symmetry 5-5 in FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a 1/s-reference-scale, top plan, fragmental View of parts in the circumscribed zone 6 in FIG- URE 3, showing a canvas covering panel which optionally replaces plate 14.

FIGURE 7 is a 2reference-scale, fragmental, crosssectional view, with incomplete perspective, taken in plane 7 7 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 8 is a 2Vs-reference-scale elevational view of a certain bracket in FIGURE 7, seen as per arrow 8 therein.

FIGURE 9 is a 2/s-reference-scale sectional View in the plane 9-9 in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a 2preference-scale sectional view in the plane 10-10 in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 1l is a 1/a-reference-scale sectional view in the plane 11-11 in FIGURE l and within the two planes C, C.

FIGURE l2 is a fragmental top plan view of a corner in the larger said rebound bed.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmental elevational view of a top portion of the FIGURE 12 corner.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmental cross-sectional View of a pocket-type ap alternative to the FIGURE 7 included ap 49.

Referring especially to FIGURES l, 3 and 7, there are reference characters, not for the inclusive frame, but for the various components thereof, the frame, in this smaller embodiment, including the corners or stub posts as well as the sides. In the main, the frame consists of four angle/ rails 17, to which the four strip springs 18 are respectively axed. Each set 0f an angle/rail and a said strip spring is a set of two straight lengths, the angle/rail being the slightly longer length and therefore describable as being, in its length, at least coextensive with the strip spring.

Above, each one has an inwardly arcuated or rst or spring or upper leg 19, so termed because of mutual a'ixment with spring 18. This is an elongated strip which has been transversely curved, in at least the greater part of the strip width, in a wise whereby the two mutually Y v parallel long edges or margins neighbor one another. Be-

rality of quick-detachable legs, respective to the corner zones. Herein, the unaccompanied term, corner, is not a Zonal expression; it is a substantive which identifies one of a corresponding plurality of short and shallow structures, alternating with and in mutual rigid aflixment with the angle/rails. They are alternatively referred'to as stub posts. The frame, prostrate and endless, horizontally spacedly surrounds the flat or tray floor. Each corner stub-post rigidly holds the two angle/rail ends. l

,In Patent Oilce printed copies, where lineal dimensions are reduced a third, the l/l scale in FIGURES 7 and 8 in the original drawings becomes a 2/3 scale; it is the herein mentioned reference scale. Refer to the herewith accompanying drawings of a single species but illustrated in two rebound beds of different size.

cause the mean plane of leg 19 is actually or nearly horizontal, it is a prostrate leg. The heel/root portion 22 of the angle/rail is circularly curved; the root side of said portion confronts the liat -or tray floor 24; hence the heel side is one of the beds outside surfaces. Depending from leg 19 is second or up/down or outer leg 23. Legs 19 and 23 are respectively extended to constitute the circularly curved flange 27 and the bead-edged ilat flange 28. The root radius exceeds the flange-27 inside radius. The rail could be termed, a boxed angle, because each relatively wide leg ends, cross-sectionally, in an integral, inwardly directed, relatively narrow extension, the two extensions being flanges 27, 28, both curving away on relatively l small radii. The relatively large heel radius and the deg the square heel or rounded-heel type; rail 17 can be appropriately called, a quasi-angle or aquasi-angle/rail. A

atdeg angle, whether hotrolled or extruded, could substitute for it in an invention-incorporating structure, but not advantageously. Tray oor or at 24 1s a canvas` sheet, hemmed along each of the four margins, each hem embracing a single core or group of cores 29,-successively end-adjoining, each being a metal wire or attenuated rod of plastic or other suitable material. Said cores function hooked into the core-29-adjacent panel grommets'38, `the outer hook ends 34 of springs 33,`also termed, outer holding ends, being anchored on rail brackets or anchoring means 37. Spring 18 is, `for long life, hotformed, but, when installed, as will be explained, is cross-sectionally slightly elliptical. The two long edges thereof are brought into a mutually confronting state of proximity, if not contiguity, in the arrow-39-indicated locus. Disposed partly around each spring 18 is the elongated, transversely elastic, relatively wide apron 42, provided with the relatively narrow aps 49 aixed thereto. Flap grommets 43 hold together the tray flooradjacent margin of the apron, the flap 49 and the doubling/webbing 48, said grommets accommodating dot-and-dashline-indicated lacing 52, which afxes the three elements held by grommets 43, to the hook or inner` holding ends 32 of springs 33. Instead,

of being affixed to the tray floor or mat 24 indirectly` when affixed to the inner hook ends or holding ends 32, apron 42 can be afixed directly to mat 24 by being laced to additionally installed extra grommets,.conceivably al` ternating with grommets 38. The apron other long margin mounts the grommets 44, adjoining the angle/rail at ange 28. Grommets 44 are special in that they have upwardly directed, hole-defining annular flanges engaged 'by ange-28holes, lacing being threaded through grommets 44 tohold apron 42 to flange 28. Said lacing is repre sented by dot-and-dash line 47. Spring 18 and angle/rail 17 are mutually affixed by rivets 53. The aprons afixment (indirect, thru inner hook end 32) to at or panel 24, and alixment at grommets 44 to rail 17. are referred to, respectively, as being panel-proximal and paneldistal. A temporarily installed dolly 55, an elongated steel bar, bucks rivets 53 during the hammering thereof. The dolly is represented by dot-and-dash lines.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a rebound bed small enough for a frame `havingcorners 59 and, alternating with them, angle/ rails 17 which are welded to them.` The juncture, wall or aixment wall 54 of corner 59 has, aixed to it by lletwelds 58, the angle/ rail stub 57, with a length -of two inches or a little more. Previously to said aixment, angle/rail 17 was resistancewelded to stu'b S7. Strip spring 18s thinnessand hardness are such as to necessitate the protecting of the corneroverhead plastic safety plate 62 against abrasion by spring 18s end edge. Protection ishad by sheathing the `spring end portions with end jackets `63, which are soft very thick plastic coatings. See FIGURES .1, 3, 4 and 5 to identify plate 62 and end jackets 63. If the coating be applied by dipping each spring end in a container holding the liquid plastic, there would be also an inside coating. In FIGURE 7, the surface of the outside portion of the coating is fragmentally represented by dashline 63S.

Refer to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Plate 62 consists of a relatively extensive body portion or body, 62B, in an elevated plane, of a relatively narrow, elongated arm portion or arm, 62A, in a depressed plane, and of an intervening shoulder portion or shoulder, 62S, plate 62 having therefore a .Z-shaped longitudinal section, each of the three portions -being relatively thin, although the margin of the body portion and the arm are thicker than the greater part of the body portion. A boss, 67, substantially as thick as the margin, is narrowly spaced from it to constitute the bent groove 68,- which lodges the wire spring 69. It is 4 omitted from the FIGURE 4 view; see FIGURE 3. Arm 62A is threaded through elliptical grommet 64` in the canvas panel which is the flat or tray door 24, to adjoiningly underlie the latter. Threaded through the through hole 72 in boss 67 and passed around plate 62s outer corner, is the cord 73 (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 5), which is knotted below plate 62,'the-underneath sidef being indicated in FIGURE 5 bythe letter U; cord 73 thereby holds spring 69 in groove 68. In FIGURE 3 the spring 69 can be identified by a partly dotted, partly dot-anddash line. Two screws, not depicted, can be envisaged holding spring 69s looped ends to roof 74, whereby dis-- placement of plate 62, from the corner-overhead position seen in FIGURE 3, is prevented.

In FIGURE', the function of plate 62 is assumed by the much less costly but adequate corner cover 77, a canvasscomponent. It is laced to the respective two spring endson which it rests partly directly and partly indirectly because of the intervention of a said plastic jacket on each.` To preclude excessive flapping, cover 77 can be stiffened by a midway `doubling strip or by one or two coextensive canvas laminations or by a narrow plastic or plywood stiener plate lodged in an elongated canvas pocket like the one indicated -by 78; appropriate stitching, stapling and/or cementing effects the assembling. The lacing is indicated by 79. In thesearrangements, springs like 69 or otherwise are unnecessary.

Refer to FIGURES 1, 2, 7, ll and 12. Each corner or stub post is fashioned from a short length of preferably standard steel; pipe of square cross-sectional form, the

bottom left open, the top closed with a roof 74,fillet welded to the two juncture (inside or` afxed) walls54 and to the two outside walls 56. A partition 82 is iillet weldedto walls S4 and roof 74, all filletwelds being either continuous or intermittent, depending on various considerations, with which persons skilled in the art are familiar. The welding to roof 74 is represented by dot-anddash lines 75. Wedged into the angle zone formed by v walls 54 is the upper portion of a respective one of the four quick-detachable legs 83, of circular cross-sectional form. The wedging is effectedby a plurality of setscrews 84, based on partition 82. Access for the axially effected tightening of them is had through holes 87 in walls 56. Leg 83s top end bears against roof 74 and the bottom end 'holds the tightly fitted shoulder-type plug 88, onto which is snapped a respective one of the four soft rubber feet 89. A mechanical equivalent to the described relation between `the stub post and the quick-detachable leg would consist in providing the leg with a truncated-conical top end, and the stub post with a therewithin welded,v

correspondingly `tapered and appropriately dimensioned truncated-conical shell for receiving `said top end, and

screwing ,means for drawing the top end and the shell into tight mutual engagement.

Refer to FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and l0 for views of the bracket or anchoring means 37, which can be a steel dropforgin g or a ductile iron casting. When broadsidewise viewed in FIGURE 7, the bracket form is that of a quasi-angle, notchedfin one leg, each leg being a compound leg in that at least most of the cross-sectional views of it would disclose two simple legs constituting it, a first one, 92, faying with the angle/rail, a second, 93, extending rectangularly to leg 92. Two such cross-sectional views are thesubjects of FIGURES 9 and 10, taken in planes 9-9 and 1lb-10 respectively in FIGURES. They show the notching of leg 93 and the therewith transversely alined 'bending and considerable thickening of leg 92,`to constitute, betweenlegs 92 and 93 on the one hand and the angle/rail on the other, the hole 94 for engagement by outer hook end 34 of coil spring 33; see also FIGURE 8.

In FIGURE 7 the two pairs of arrows, 97 and 98, and, in FIGURE 8, the two asterisks, 97 and 98, respectively represent two spotwelds contributorily afxing bracket 37 to angle/rail 17. Brackets 37 are alternatively referred to as rail brackets and as angle/rail brackets and as anchoring means.

Various considerations, among them, insutiiciently high gymnasium doorways, dimensional limits for freighting, a dearth or even total absence of adequately long plating tanks for certain metals, dictate, in the larger rebound beds, separability of sides and corners. This accounts for the arrangement in FIGURES 12 and 13, where there is no weld-afxing of angle/rails 102 to corners 101. Instead, weldnuts 104 are welded to the juncture or atiixment walls 103 of corner 101. The angle/rails include thereto welded end walls 107. Holding them and respective walls 103 in mutual rigid aixment are the screws 109, of which there are, in the case of each wall 103, the two top screws seen in FIGURES l2 and 13 and two bottom screws which do not appear in the views. Underlyingly bearing against corner roof 108, is a quick-detachable leg 83. Within corner 101 are a partition and setscrews like those in the described small embodiment, for the rigid holding of the leg top portion. However, FIGURE 13 does disclose a taller corner. This is dictated by the spaces needed for screws 109. Angle/rail stub 112 is aixed to end wall 107 by an appropriate number of intermittent iilletwelds, one whereof being indicated by 113.

Flap 49 in FIGURE 7 could be regarded as undesirably thin and exible in some cases of a user impacting on it in a locus in direct alinement with hook end 32, with a narrow part of his anatomy and suffering a bruise. Refer to FIGURE 14, where the counterpart or ap 49 in FIG- URE 7 4is a canvas pocket-type flap 49P. It encloses a length or a group of successively end-adjoining lengths of plywood 114. lFlap 49P is stitched or otherwise atixed to apron 42s margin. In the three laminations which are the pocket-type iiap, the apron margin and the doubling strip 48, there is an appropriate succession of grommets 43 which serve for the lacing of apron 42 and the holding of the apron and the flap to inner hook end 32. Such a plywood stiiened pocket constitutes a broad, stiff flap for preventing bruising when impacted.

The herein coined term, ellipticize, concisely describes, when lacing the aprons, the transforming of the crosssectionally nearly circular strip springs when relaxed into the cross-sectionally somewhat elliptical springs when compressed by tensed said aprons, the apron tension being commensurate with a supporting-means axial angle that measures maximally ten degrees to the horizontal, but recommendedly approximately two degrees.

Refer to FIGURE 7. Horizontality of roof 74 is not essential. However, assuming it is horizontal and adopting it as a reference for horizontality, the spring-SS-representing dot-and-dash lines indicate an upward tilting of spring 33 by an angle measuring one-and-two-thirds degrees. This is occasioned by the tight-enough lacing of the apron to the coil springs for a reasonable degree of resistance on the part of apron 42 to any impacting on the limited areas of the flap and the flap-adjoining portion of the apron, to cause a nearly horizontal rebounding of the impacting body inwardly and into the safe haven of the tray floor. So little ellipticizing of the spring-18 circular cross-section is needed that the by far greater part of apron tension must continue to be provided by the coil springs in quite moderate tilting, as above described. In FIGURE 7, a plane intersecting grommet-SS holes and the apron line of tangency on spring 18 is angled, as can be seen, from horizontality by about 48 degrees. It relates to said 12/3 degrees per the ratio 144:5, which approximately describes, respectively, the tension distribution between mat and spring 33 and between mat and apron. A ratio smaller (less spring-33 tension and more apron tension) would accelerate apron abrasion, without any compensating gain. In FIGURE 7 and especially in FIGURE l, to point up the compressing of the strip spring, it is depicted schematically with exaggeration. Rubber strands in apron 42 and frictional engagement by it of spring 18 make for less life than even in the at, let alone the metal components, and therefore make for occasional needed replacement of the aprons. Lacing is one simple way of effecting replacements. There are other ways; one way is the replacing of the single row of grommets 43 with a plurality of parallel rows of grom- -mets therealong in the apron; hooking ends 32 would then engage one of the rows, selected for a desired degree of tension in the apron.

Refer to FIGURES 7 and 14. The width of flap 49 adapts it to completely cover, in plan View, the hooking ends 32. The housed strip of stiff material, 114, has a width that nearly coextends with the flap-contributory pocket 49P. The yield distance of flap 49 from flange 27 could, for still safer impacting on the ap, be increased by adopting a bigger spring 18 or by installing the same angle/rail with spring leg 19 tilted inwardly downwardly a little, thereby causing a steeper attitude of the flap and the flap-adjoining apron portion. A steeper attitude would involve neither a longer coil spring nor any counteracting of the desired inward, horizontal rebounding to any important degree.

The mat-supporting means consists, in the main, of groups of resiliently stretchable elements or holders, namely, said springs 33 or equivalent elements, eg., shock cords. These groups are of 4course in a plurality that corresponds to the plurality of the frames said straight sides.

The lacing which aixes the panel-adjacent margin of the apron, as well as `other means lof effecting aixment thereof, are alternatively referred to with the expession, an apron-aflixing inner (also apron-engaging inner) means that is adapted to selectively establishing a desired degree of apron tension. Hooking ends 32 and 34 are alternatively referred to with the expressions, inner engaging portions, and, outer engaging portions, also inner holding portions, and, outer holding portions, respectively.

The two distinguishing advantages which make possible the enlargement of the usuable rebound area in rebound beds of the present invention, consist in the quasiangle character of the rail and the anchoring of the outer holding ends of the resiliently stretchable supporting means to portions of the rail that are closer to the outermost than to the innermost rail surfaces.

In. the case of trampolines whose resiliently stretchable supporting means consists of a plurality of groups of coil springs or shockcords, the groups being respective to the straight sides, the trampolines with a rebound surface of ve by ten feet, have minimal over-all dimensions of seven by twelve feet, and those -with a rebound surface of seven by fourteen feet, have minimal over-al1 dimensions of ten by seventeen feet. The respective rebound surface areas are 7200 and 14,112 square inches. Rebound beds incorporating the present invention and of identical overall dimensions have usable rebound areas of 8704 square inches and 19,136 square inches, respectively 21.0 percent and 35.6 percent more.

Contrary to conventional trampolines, the long sides are neither hinged (for flash folding) nor telescopic. Where the gymnasium doorways are insuiiiciently high, the rebound bed of large size would be introduced knocked down and assembled in the gymnasium. When not in use, a set of block-and-tackle units on the ceiling alongside of one of the gymnasium walls, could be installed for towing the rebound bed, thereby eliminating assembling abor.

For interpretation of claims, it is hereby assumed that said brackets are regardable, when installed, as parts of the angle/rails and, since the angle/rails are parts of the frame. said brackets are parts of the frame. The adjective, prostrate, is applied in the case of the quasi-angle, to that leg whose mean plane is actually or nearly horizontal.

I claim:

l. A rebound bed including: a rebound mat; an endless frame which predominantly extends horizontally and spacedly surrounds the mat and has a plurality of elongated, straight sides and, alternating therewith, a corresponding plurality of stub posts; each straight side including an elongated transversely resiliently yieldable strip spring and an approximately as long angle/rail an upper leg which is substantially prostrate and inwardly directed, and, descending from it, an outer leg, the` angle/rail root, confronting the mat, the angle/rail two i ends, which are ends of said legs, being rigidly, at least indirectly, affixed to two said stub posts respectively, each strip spring being curved to bring the two long margins thereof into adjacency, thereby forming a tubej said margins being rigidly held by the angle/rail upper leg; rigidly held by each angle/rail, at the mutually angularly confronting or inner sufaces of the two legs, a plurality of elongated anchoring means disposed transversely to the angle/rail axis and successively parallelwise spaced, whereby each of the two legs is stiffened and both are mutually braced; a matfsupporting means interveningly connecting the mat margins and said anchoring means, and mainly consisting of resiliently stretchable holders in a plurality of groups corresponding to the plurality of said sides of the frame; a plurality of elastic aprons, at leastone for each said side, the total apron length in each side approximating that of the respective strip spring, each apron having a mat-distal or outer edge and a matproximal or inner edge; an apron outer edge holding means engaging a respective angle/rail outer leg, and an apron inner edge holding means holding the inner edge against substantial movement relative to, while neighboring, the mat; each apron obliquely extending, upwardly and outwardly from the bat, to contiguously traverse, and extend downwardly from, the respective strip spring and terminate in the respective apron outer edge holding means.

2..` A rebound bed as in claim 1, said anchoring means comprising rail brackets.

3. A rebound bed as described in claim 1 and including, along each of said sides, an elongated ap which extends, in the width thereof, inwardly, downwardly from atiixment to the mat-adjacent long margin of a respective said apron and having a width suicient for completely covering, in plan view, the apron respective inner edge holding means.

4. A rebound bed as in claim 3, said ap being a woven fabric and including an elongated stiftening strip of any suitable material, held by the flap and being, in the width of said strip, coextensive with the greater part of the ap.

5. A rebound bed as in claim 4, said ap being an elongated pocket, said stiffening strip being held inside it.

6. A rebound bed as inclaim 1, the common plane of the lines of tensile force in eachsaid mat-supporting means being pitched upwardly inwardly at an angle to the horizontal that measures maximally ten degrees, whereby the mat-proximal alxment of the respective having i 3 said apron is effected selectively for an adopted degree of apron transverse tension.

7. A rebound bed as in claim 1,.the common plane of the lines of tensile force in each said mat-supporting means being pitched upwardly inwardly at an angle to the horizontal that measures maximally live degrees, whereby the mat-proximal afxment of the respective said apron is elected selectively for an adopted degree of apron transverse tension.

8. A rebound bed as in claim 1, said mat-supporting means, with respectto each said side, consisting in the main of a group of coiled tension springs, each anchored,

by an outer engaging portion thereof, to a respective said anchoring means in a zone thereof that neighbors the root of the respective said angle/rail, said supporting means holding, by inner engagingportions thereof, the

mat, a respective said apron being detachably affixed thereto at least indirectly.

9. A rebound bed as in claim 1, said mat-supporting means, with respect to each said side, being anchored to a respective said anchoring means in a zone thereof that neighbors, the root of the respective said angle/rail, said supporting `means holding, by inner engaging portions thereof, the mat, a respective said apron being detachably aixed thereto at least indirectly.

10. A rebound bed as in claim 1 and including-in each of' at least half of the corner zones seen in plan view, a safety plate contiguously overlying the thereat two ends respectively of the thereat adjacent two said strip springs.

11. A rebound bed as in claim 1, each of at least half of the strip spring ends being provided with a thereto tightly adhering thick plastic end sheath.

12. A rebound bed as in claim 1 and including, in each of at least half of the corner zones seenin plan view, a safety plate contiguously overlying the thereat two ends respectively of the thereat adjacent two said strip springs, each of at least half of the strip spring ends being provided with a thereto tightly adhering thick plastic end sheath.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,603 5/ 1890 Harley 182-137 1,270,780 7/1918 Bugg 5-110 x 1,409,746 3/1922 McCord. 3,233,895 2/1966 Grelle et al. 182-139X FOREIGN PATENTS 102,905 5/1899 Germany. 334,258 3/1921 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REBOUND BED INCLUDING: A REBOUND MAT; AN ENDLESS FRAME WHICH PREDOMINANTLY EXTENDS HORIZONTALLY AND SPACEDLY SURROUNDS THE MAT AND HAS A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED, STRAIGHT SIDES AND, ALTERNATING THEREWITH, A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF STUB POSTS; EACH STRAIGHT SIDE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED TRANSVERSELY RESILIENTLY YIELDABLE STRIP SPRING AND AN APPROXIMATELY AS LONG ANGLE/RAIL HAVING AN UPPER LEG WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY PROSTRATE AND INWARDLY DIRECTLY, AND, DESCENDING FROM IT, AN OUTER LEG, THE ANGLE/RAIL ROOT CONFRONTING THE MAT, THE ANGLE/RAIL TWO ENDS, WHICH ARE ENDS OF SAID LEGS, BEING RIGIDLY, AT LEAST INDIRECTLY, AFFIXED TO TWO SAID STUB POSTS RESPECTIVELY, EACH STRIP SPRING BEING CURVED TO BRING THE TWO LONG MARGINS THEREOF INTO ADJACENCY, THEREBY FORMING A "TUBE," SAID MARGINS BEING RIGIDLY HELD BY THE ANGLE/RAIL UPPER LEG; RIGIDLY HELD BY EACH ANGLE/RAIL, AT THE MUTUALLY ANGULARLY CONFRONTING OR INNER SURFACES OF THE TWO LEGS, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED ANCHORING MEANS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO THE ANGLE/RAIL AXIS AND SUCCESSIVELY PARALLELWISE SPACED, WHEREBY EACH OF THE TWO LEGS IS STIFFENED AND BOTH ARE MUTUALLY BRACED; A MAT-SUPPORTING MEANS INTERVENTINGLY CONNECTING THE MAT MARGINS AND SAID ANCHORING MEANS, AND MAINLY CONSISTING OF RESILIENTLY STRETCHABLE HOLDERS IN A PLURALITY OF GROUPS CORRESPONDING TO THE PLURALITY OF SAID SIDES OF THE FRAME; A PLURALITY OF ELASTIC APRONS, AT LEAST ONE FOR EACH SAID SIDE, THE TOTAL APRON LENGTH IN EACH SIDE APPROXIMATING THAT OF THE RESPECTIVE STRIP SPRING, EACH APRON HAVING A MAT-DISTAL OR OUTER EDGE AND A MATPROXIMAL OR INNER EDGE; AN APRON OUTER EDGE HOLDING MEANS ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE ANGLE/RAIL OUTER LEG, AND AN APRON INNER EDGE HOLDING MEANS HOLDING THE INNER EDGE AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO, WHILE NEIGHBORING, THE MAT; EACH APRON OBLIQUELY EXTENDING, UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM, THE RESPECTIVE STRIP SPRING AND EXTEND DOWNWARDLY FROM, THE RESPECTIVE STRIP SPRING AND TERMINATE IN THE RESPECTIVE APRON OUTER EDGE HOLDING MEANS. 